Help Save Gabriel

Daniel Civitarese Start Date: Jan 14, 2020 - End Date: May 22, 2020
  • Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

My Travel Story

by: Daniel Civitarese Start Date: Jan 14, 2020 - End Date: May 22, 2020
My brother, Gabriel Escatel, was admitted to the Emergency Room over the New Year's holiday due to debilitating pain from several marble-sized bumps all over his body. After an extensive biopsy Gabriel was diagnosed with Melanoma Cancer, the most serious type of skin cancer.

This cancer is believed to have started with a boil in late August 2019 and now the cancerous tumors have internally metastasized all throughout his body. The tumors have spread to Gabriel's organs, nerves, and muscles, in addition to the Melanoma tumors that can be felt externally. The tumors continue to aggressively metastasize, forming new sites in as little as one week. Due to the rarity and advanced nature of his cancer, the first type of treatment Gabriel needs is Opdivo®. Opdivo treatments are given when the cancerous tumors have spread to parts of the body (such as internal organs) where they cannot be surgically removed.

Due to the failing and absurd healthcare system in this country (U.S.), my brother’s insurance will cover only a small fraction of the expensive yet critical treatment costs. There is also a lag time before his coverage starts. But Gabriel needs treatment now.

My brother has a young family that is counting on him to beat this cancer. His 3-year-old son, longtime girlfriend, and her two daughters, are all depending on Gabriel to get better. With treatment his chances of surviving increase. I want my brother to have those years to live for himself and for his loved ones.

Gabriel is too humble to ask for assistance, but he has reluctantly allowed me to post his personal medical information to this public-facing site because he has, in his words, said “I want to live.” As a family we are giving and doing all we can to save my brother. We would not under any normal circumstance be asking for outside help. But the exorbitant cost of life-saving treatment has led us to make the tough decision to set up this page. We are in this fight alongside Gabriel and his family. We must get Gabriel the critical and immediate medical care he needs and deserves. Raising these funds is necessary to help save Gabriel’s life.

It is hard to put into words what any support you can give means to us and how grateful we are to family and friends. If you are unable to contribute financially, please pray for strength and healing and we thank you immensely. If you can contribute toward Gabriel's treatment, any amount no matter how small is greatly appreciated. We are grateful to you all. Please kindly also share this page with your family & friends.

Thank you very much in advance.
  • Los Angeles, CA, United States of America